5 Causes of Anal Itching

Anal itching, also known as pruritus ani, is not only uncomfortable but embarrassing as well. Various things lead to anal itching. Severity of the itching and remedy depends on the causes. While sometimes the condition is as a result of foods ingested and clear easily, other cases need medical attention or you can use some pruritus ani ointments such as Pranicura. You can visit their website here, where you can find useful information and feedback from other people who are experiencing this issue and you can order it online. Reasons why you may experience anal itching are as a result of the conditions below:

Hemorrhoids

Research indicates that one out of two people gets hemorrhoids before the age of 50 years. Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swellings of the veins in the lower rectum or around the anus and can either be internal or external. External hemorrhoids, which are more common and stubborn develop outside the anus while internal hemorrhoids develop within the rectum or anus.

Hemorrhoids cause extreme itching, irritation and severe pain around the anus but are not life-threatening. They are treatable.

Experts are yet to establish the cause of hemorrhoids but cite sitting for long in the toilet, complications from chronic constipation, straining when passing stool or family history among the possible causes.

Hookworm infections

According to a report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 576 – 740 million globally suffer from hookworm infections. Hookworms are common in developing nations in the subtropics and tropics as a result of poor sanitation.

Hookworms are parasites that feed off living things affecting the skin, lungs and small intestines. Human beings contract hookworms through larvae present in the contaminated human waste.

Though hookworm infection symptoms are subtle to a healthy person with low parasite burden, an itchy anus is the most common and general. A small rash characterizes the area of the larvae entry. When the hookworms grow in the intestines, the infected person is most likely to experience diarrhea.

Medications like Mebendazole (Emverm) and Albendazole (Albenza) that destroy parasites are some of the drugs that doctors prescribe. They are taken once to treat the infection.

Scabies

At any given time, there are about 130 million people with scabies globally. A mite called Sarcoptes scabiei causes the scabies skin infestation. The bugs are microscopic and if not treated, lives on the skin surface for months where they reproduce fast. They burrow deeper into the skin to lay eggs which causes a red rash on the skin and itchiness.

Scabies is highly contagious and stubborn as it is passed through direct contact with an infected person mostly through sharing beddings and clothes, prolonged skin-skin contact or sexual intercourse.

In older children and adults, scabies presents itself as intense itching in the anus, elbow, between the fingers, penis, nipple, armpit, wrist among other areas. The itch worsens at night.

It is quickly contained and treatable through prescribed ointments and creams though extreme cases may require oral medication.

Anal Cancer

Though rare, anal cancer is a dreaded condition caused by abnormal cells developing in the body. In some cases, the abnormal cell growth accumulates to form tumors. Research indicates that out of all the U.S people, only 0.2 percent are likely to get anal cancer in their lifetime.

Symptoms may include, though not limited to, an itchy anus at times accompanied by discharge, bleeding from the rectum, pressure in the anus, or a lump near the anus.

Other cancers that develop somewhere else in the body may also spread to the anal canal, causing anal cancer.

Body lice infestation

Pubic louse (Pthirus pubis) is among the three types of lice that infest humans. Infestations spread through close contact with people and common in crowded areas characterized by poor hygiene.

Regular washing of the bedding, clothes and generally good hygiene will treat and prevent body lice infestations.

Lice thrive and feed on human blood. They lay eggs on the surface of the skin and clothes or bedding. Intense itching, also known as pruritus, of the affected area is one of the most common symptoms of lice infestation. Others include allergic reaction, red bumps, and darkened skin near the waist or groin.